Ahad, 26 Ogos 2012

Suara Sri Andalas

Suara Sri Andalas

Proses Migrasi Dipercepat Jika Air Dibawah Negeri

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: "Sekiranya penstrukturan industri air dapat dilaksanakan dan pengagihan bekalan air adalah di bawah kuasa kerajaan negeri, proses migrasi ini boleh dipercepatkan," kata Exco Perumahan, Pengurusan Bangunan Dan Setinggan Negeri Selangor, Iskandar A. Samad.

Jelasnya dalam satu kenyataan, migrasi adalah tertakluk kepada peraturan yang ditetapkan oleh Syabas.

Pada awalnya, kata beliau Syabas memerlukan persetujuan 100 peratus dari pemilik barulah migrasi boleh dijalankan.

Tetapi, ujarnya setelah diadakan perbincangan di antara Kerajaan Negeri dan Syabas, Syabas telah bersetuju agar peratus ini dikurangkan.

Menurutnya, dan ketika Syabas dipanggil ke Mesyuarat Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Selangor (MTES) awal tahun ini, CEO Syabas, Datuk Lee Miang Koi berjanji kepada Menteri Besar untuk membenarkan 2 sistem di dalam sebuah pangsapuri, satu sistem meter pukal dan satu sistem meter individu.

Kata beliau, ini bermakna bagi pemilik yang tidak memberi kerjasama untuk migrasi akan menggunakan meter pukal dan tidak akan mendapat air percuma 20 meter padu, sementara mereka yang bekerjasama akan menggunakan meter individu dan akan mendapat air percuma.

"Kerajaan Negeri juga telah melaksanakan 2 program untuk memudahkan penduduk di pangsapuri kos rendah yang menggunakan meter pukal mendapat air percuma iaitu Program Kupon Air dan Program Lapor Dan Dapat.

"Program Kupon Air ini terlalu rumit dan telah digantikan dengan Program Lapor Dan Dapat pada bulan Mac tahun ini," jelasnya yang juga Adun Chempaka.

Iskandar menambah, bagi Program Lapor Dan Dapat, penduduk melalui JMB atau MC perlu melaporkan kepada Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan (PBT) dan PBT akan memberitahu Syabas untuk memberi potongan pada bil meter pukal.

Katanya, JMB atau MC kemudian akan membuat potongan 20 meter padu pada bil-bil individu setiap kediaman.

Menurutnya, setelah dilaksanakan Program Lapor Dan Dapat, hanya 12 pangsapuri kos rendah yang belum mendapat air percuma 20 meter padu.

Selepas ini, ujarnya Program Lapor Dan Dapat ini akan diperluaskan ke pangsapuri kos sederhana seperti Mentari Court yang menjadi tumpuan media sekarang.

"Saya menasihatkan penduduk mendesak JMB dan MC mereka supaya mempercepatkan penyertaan mereka ke dalam Program Lapor Dan Dapat dengan mengisi borang yang khas yang disediakan.

"Ia hanya memerlukan seorang AJK JMB atau MC pergi ke pejabat PBT dan mengisi borang tersebut yang hanya mengambil masa 10 minit," katanya.

Dalam kes Mentari Court itu, ujar beliau proses migrasi adalah dalam peringkat akhir.

Beliau menjelaskan bahawa sebarang ketidakpuasan hati perlulah ditujukan kepada Syabas.

Katanya, kerajaan negeri sentiasa mengadakan perbincangan dengan Syabas agar proses migrasi ini dipercepatkan.

Justeru, kata beliau sekiranya penstrukturan industri air dapat dilaksanakan dan pengagihan bekalan air adalah di bawah kuasa Kerajaan Negeri, proses migrasi ini boleh dipercepatkan.

"Kerajaan negeri buat masa ini tidak akan membayar tunggakan kepada mereka yang tidak mendapat air percuma. Perkara telah saya jelaskan semasa Sidang Dewan Negeri pada bulan Mac lepas," ujarnya.


Sumber: HarakahDaily

Politics of Fear

Posted: 24 Aug 2012 03:00 AM PDT

Press Statement 24 August 2012
Politics of Fear

Tan Sri James Masing has said that it would be political suicide to give the opposition a test mandate to govern the country ('Perilous to give opposition test mandate – Masing', Borneo Post 23 Aug 2012), supporting the former Prime Minister's statement that giving the opposition the mandate to rule would be dangerous as many things could be destroyed.

Yes, it would be perilous indeed when the opposition takes over from the BN. Exceedingly perilous for those who have the most to lose, those who have taken advantage of their positions of authority to enrich themselves at the expense of the people, who have remained poor and stagnant for the past 50 years.

Perilous for the BN elite who done nothing of substance to advance the lot of the common people but who resort to giving away insubstantial sums of money nearing election time in the guise of the 'caring' government.

Perilous for the corrupt politicians and their families who have their greedy hands in every project and contract even though they do not know the first thing about the business concerned.

Imminently catastrophic for the selfish leaders and their cronies who have taken away the lands of the natives, cut down their trees for profit of billions of ringgit and drowned the lands in their insatiable quest for even more wealth, all in the name of 'development'.

These are the people who will see the destruction of their parasitic way of life and easy money as they have known it. Their misdeeds will be revealed just as the cowgate and Scorpene scandals were uncovered. Investigations will be carried out on these people and their leader, a man and his family members who are said to be stakeholders in more than 400 companies in 25 countries, worth several billion US dollars, robbed from the people of Sarawak.

What do the people have to lose by giving a mandate to the opposition? They have already lost their lands, their livelihood, their pride, their chance for advancement and now their patience with a government lacking accountability and transparency. The BN government has had 50 years to run the country and if indeed they have done such a sterling job, they should have nothing to worry about; they should be able to let the record speak for them. Unfortunately for them, among their more memorable achievements are a dangerously high national debt, a soaring crime rate (and a police force that manipulates the statistics to fit the KPI), a rakyat fearful for their safety, a culture of rent seeking, cronyism and corruption, ministers mired in kickback scandals, murder allegations, bailout of family companies using public funds and many more of similar unpalatable nature. In contrast to that, the Pakatan Rakyat is offering the very positive track record of the opposition-run states and the promise to put in place a federal government that is competent, accountable and transparent. 

That is why are we now seeing BN politician after BN politician, day after day in the mainstream press trying to instill fear into the rakyat by giving silly warnings about what would happen if there is a new government. The rakyat are now mature enough to discern that the current crop of leaders do not have any sound policies to sell nor any track record to back them up, hence they resort to selling fear. After all, fear is in plentiful supply within the BN clique, and the fearful are eager to spread the fear. However, in their attempt to do so, they come across as tired defenders of a government that has let the people down time and again. Even now, in their bid to restore some credibility, the Najib administration has nothing original to offer but instead has been implementing or promising to implement policies borrowed from the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto. Examples are the abolishment of the ISA, the implementation of the RCI on illegal immigrants in Sabah and 'Project IC' and the proposal to lower car prices.

Oil Royalty Payments

The example most pertinent at the moment is the proposal to increase Oil Royalty payments. Of course I welcome the announcement by the Chief Minister that he agrees that the royalty should be increased. But why is it only now that the CM is agreeing to pursue the matter? One can't help but think that it is because this is an issue very close to the hearts of the people, an issue which Pakatan Rakyat has promised to address. Obviously there has been no political will on the BN government's part over the last 30 or so years to seek a fairer share of the royalty until now when they are realizing there is a real possibility that the rakyat will vote them out in the coming elections. I am also curious that the CM should think royalty negotiations are better done in private. Why is that so? The oil and gas in Sarawak is not the property of the CM – it belongs to all the people of Sarawak, hence we have a right to know what is being discussed. Sarawak has been lagging behind West Malaysia in every aspect you care to name. Roads and infrastructure, education, healthcare, jobs, transportation, industry and development. One could say that West Malaysia and many individuals have prospered or benefitted via Petronas at our expense. Sarawakians now say 'Kini masa balas budi' to quote a line from the infamous BN Merdeka theme song 2012. We want to know what the Chief Minister intends to do about it, and we remind him that he is a servant of the people and is accountable to them.

The former PM, in a Freudian slip, had referred to the current administration as the 'devil' and the opposition as the 'angel'.  That in itself says it all.

I trust that the rakyat are astute enough to judge for themselves whether to choose more of the same or to give themselves the hope of a better and brighter future with the Pakatan Rakyat.

Baru Bian
State Assemblyman
N70 Ba' Kelalan/
Chairman
PKR Sarawak

Penurunan Harga Kereta: Proton Mampu Berdikari dan Bersaing

Posted: 24 Aug 2012 02:00 AM PDT

Semakan semula Dasar Automotif Negara (NAP2012) yang kini sedang dijalankan oleh Kementerian Industri dan Perdagangan Antarabangsa (MITI) memberi ruang kepada pengurangan cukai eksais secara berperingkat untuk menurunkan harga kereta.

Peluang ini juga perlu dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya untuk memperbetulkan pelbagai herotan (distortion) di dalam industri automotif negara. Kebelakangan ini, pimpinan Umno/Barisan Nasional sering memainkan sentimen perkauman termasuklah di dalam isu penurunan harga kereta, dengan memberi alasan pengurangan cukai eksais akan memufliskan Proton dan industri automotif tempatan.

Tindakan tidak bertanggungjawab ini bertujuan menanam perasaan perkauman di kalangan rakyat dengan menuduh cadangan menurunkan harga kereta ini bertujuan untuk membunuh Proton yang mengakibatkan puluhan ribu rakyat (kebanyakannya Melayu/Bumiputra) akan hilang pekerjaan.

Salah satu pertimbangan utama yang diambil KEADILAN semasa mencadangkan penurunan harga kereta adalah kemampuan Proton dan perusahaan automotif tempatan bersaing. KEADILAN mengiktiraf kejayaan Proton dan yakin ia mampu maju jauh ke depan melihatkan keupayaannya bertahan walaupun sudah tidak mendapat perlindungan rebat cukai eksais bermula tahun 2005.

Malah, sebenarnya Umno/Barisan Nasional yang mengambil keputusan menamatkan rebat cukai eksais yang diberikan kepada Proton pada tahun 2005. Sejak dari itu, kereta-kereta keluaran Proton dan perusahaan automotif nasional yang lain terpaksa membayar cukai eksais yang sama seperti juga kereta-kereta berjenama antarabangsa.

Bantuan kewangan terbesar yang diperolehi oleh Proton kini bukan lagi dalam bentuk perlindungan cukai, tetapi geran research and development (R&D) untuk membolehkannya menerokai rekaan dan teknologi yang lebih baik. Penyata kewangan Proton bagi tahun 31 Mac 2011 (muka surat 167 dari Laporan Tahun Proton 2011) menunjukkan ia mendapat geran R&D berjumlah RM175 juta.

Jumlah ini adalah jauh lebih rendah dari rebat cukai eksais bernilai berbilion ringgit yang diberikan setiap tahun kepada Proton sehingga tahun 2005. Keupayaan Proton terus bersaing dan memperkenalkan beberapa model baru selepas tahun 2005 membuktikan bahawa Proton boleh terus kekal beroperasi walaupun tanpa dilindungi rebat cukai eksais.

Sebab itu KEADILAN berpendapat dakyah perkauman yang dimainkan oleh Umno/Barisan Nasional kononnya penurunan harga kereta akan memufliskan Proton sebenarnya menghina tenaga professional di Proton dan perusahaan automotif tempatan lain yang kebanyakannya Melayu/Bumiputra. Jawapan-jawapan pimpinan Umno/Barisan Nasional yang masih menggambarkan seolah-olah Proton dan perusahaan automitif tempatan masih mendapat perlindungan cukai eksais adalah berniat jahat yang memangsakan Proton demi kepentingan politik Umno/Barisan Nasional.

KEADILAN yakin Proton dan perusahaan automotif tempatan akan mampu berdikari dan bersaing pada harga yang tidak membebankan rakyat. Komitmen KEADILAN adalah mempertahankan peluang pekerjaan dan kebajikan puluhan ribu pekerja di dalam sektor automotif negara., bukannya mengikut karenah bekas pimpinan negara yang mengongkong Proton semata-mata kerana mahu menjaga peninggalan pemerintahan beliau.

Oleh itu, KEADILAN yakin pelan perniagaan Proton yang menitikberatkan penggunaan kapasiti pengeluarannya (to optimise its unutilised production capacity) di kilang-kilangnya, melalui kerjasama untuk memasang kereta-kereta berjenama lain akan berjaya mempertahankan pekerjaan sedia ada, malah mewujudkan lebih banyak peluang pekerjaan baru.


YB NURUL IZZAH ANWAR
NAIB PRESIDEN KEADILAN

RAFIZI RAMLI
PENGARAH STRATEGI KEADILAN

YB SIM TZE TZIN
TIMBALAN KETUA PENERANGAN KEADILAN
ADUN PANTAI JEREJAK

24 OGOS 2012

Review Unrealistic Poverty Benchmark

Posted: 23 Aug 2012 03:00 AM PDT

Source: Free Malaysia Today

A social activist has called for the current absolute poverty measurement used by the government to be revamped as it doesn't take into account the rising cost of living.

PETALING JAYA: Would you be able to pay for food, clothing, accommodation, furniture, medical bills, transport, education and recreation by earning just RM763 a month?

This was the question posed by Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) representative A Jayanath, 63, during a recent interview with FMT in Petaling Jaya.

"The eight things listed are based on the government's minimum requirement on what a household should be able to manage based on the poverty line income (PLI) of RM763 for a middle-income nation," said Jayanath.

He said the calculation was based on a concept called the "absolute poverty measurement".

But the government had set different "measurements" for different regions. While RM763 is the benchmark for poverty line in Peninsular Malaysia, it is RM912 in Sarawak and RM1,048 in Sabah.

"Based on the absolute poverty line measurement, Malaysia has done a great job in reducing poverty. Currently, we only have 3.8% of Malaysian households that are considered poor," said Jayanath.

However, Jayanath said that the weakness in the absolute poverty line measurement system was that it uses the bare minimum World Bank standard of US$2 per capita per day, and it does not address several factors, such as the differences in cost of living in urban and rural areas, and the annual increase in the consumer price index (CPI).

He added that this is the reason why the government should consider using a "relative" poverty measurement system that would include, among others, these factors in calculating the poverty rate in the country.

Based on the system, Jayanath said that 50% of the monthly household median income should be used as the benchmark to measure the poverty rate in the country.

"Based on the 2009 survey by the Department of Statistics, the national household median income stands at RM2,841 a month. Therefore, our poverty line benchmark should be set at around RM1,500 per household," he said.

Jayanath said that many developed countries, such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand use this system to measure their poverty level.

"And that is why high-income nations such as Japan and South Korea say that their poverty level is about 15%," he said.

Social Inclusion Commission

However, Jayanath pointed out that if RM1,500 per household was used as a benchmark for poverty, it will show that about 21.6% of total households in Malaysia are currently below that threshold.

"That roughly translates into nearly six million of our population. But tell me honestly, what can you do with RM1,500 if you have a family of four? Not much I think," said Jayanath.

And this is why, he added, that the government should consider the proposed Social Inclusion Bill in order to address this matter.

On Tuesday, SABM mooted the bill which would compel the government to establish a Social Inclusion Commission (SIC).

The commission would be tasked with formulating and monitoring poverty reduction programmes and eliminating institutionalised discrimination in the country.

Jayanath said that it was also equally important for the government to customise poverty eradication programmes based on the rural-urban divide and by regions.

"Earning RM1,500 in Gua Musang, Kelantan, is different from earning the same amount in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya," said Jayanath.

He also said that it was important for policy-makers to get the participation of the MPs, state assemblymen and NGOs in order to understand poverty in a given constituency or locality.

"A community leader from Klang will have better understanding of the poverty in his area as opposed to a policy-maker based in Putrajaya ," said Jayanath.

Indigenous people, he added, needed customised programmes that cater for traditional norms and cultural practices.

"Many of them prefer to live in their natural ecosystem. So you cannot go around building concrete structures for them to live in. You must consult and understand their real needs first," he said.
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